SPRING HILL — The walkway leading to the J.D. Floyd K8 cafeteria was lined with American flags. Inside, students gathered twice, once for the younger children and again for the older ones, to be introduced to veterans and active military personnel who were somehow related to the school.

The Central High School color guard was on hand to post the colors and the children, school staff and visitors listened to the national anthem and pledged allegiance to the flag.

The event was coordinated by exceptional student education teacher Joyce Lewis, whose son, Army Spc. Michael Tamborello, was one of the visitors. Four years ago, she saw that there was no recognition of veterans at the school and decided it was time for a change.

There were many military personnel on hand for the recognition, including:

• Tamborello, a former student, is heading to Iraq in a month.

• Spc. Andrew LaRocca, retired from the Army. The former student was a combat medic and is the son of kindergarten teacher Allyson Truman.

• Pvt. Steven Truman, another of Allyson Truman's sons, is on active duty in the Florida Army National Guard.

• Spc. Shawn Hobbs, Army, whose daughter, Vivian Hobbs, is a J.D. Floyd fourth-grader. He served 10 years in the military police.

• Two servicemen, Jason McQueeney, Army, and Charles E. Smith, National Guard reserve, were represented by their mothers, since they were unable to attend. McQueeney has a daughter, Meghan McQueeney, in fourth grade at the school; and Smith has a nephew, Jaquavias Johnson, in kindergarten.